Funeral--Lost Child

Lost Child

Luke 2:41–52 GW

Every year Jesus’ parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When he was 12 years old, they went as usual. When the festival was over, they left for home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. They thought that he was with the others who were traveling with them. After traveling for a day, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. His understanding and his answers stunned everyone who heard him. When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!” Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant. Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and maturity. He gained favor from God and people.

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Luke 1:41–52 GW

When Elizabeth heard the greeting, she felt the baby kick. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child that you will have. I feel blessed that the mother of my Lord is visiting me. As soon as I heard your greeting, I felt the baby jump for joy. You are blessed for believing that the Lord would keep his promise to you.” Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord’s greatness! My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior, because he has looked favorably on me, his humble servant. “From now on, all people will call me blessed because the Almighty has done great things to me. His name is holy. For those who fear him, his mercy lasts throughout every generation. “He displayed his mighty power. He scattered those who think too highly of themselves. He pulled strong rulers from their thrones. He honored humble people.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, his Son our Lord Jesus Christ (+) and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Scott and Diane, I can’t image what is going through your mind today as parents. After getting Jennifer back from her addiction only to lose her as her body failed from problems it caused.

That is why I read the passage that I am sure is rarely read at a funeral.

Of Jesus as a boy lost among festival goers.

When you raise a child you want to do everything to protect and care for them

It is tough to let them be independent enough to make their own mistakes and to

learn the lessons of life. Yet that is what we who are parents are called to do.

Still if you listened to the text from Luke he puts you right into the moment of being such a parent...

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When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!”

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It is directly to that fear, and worry that Jesus speaks a word of comfort and grace

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we need to hear in a different way.

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Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant.

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We here today need to understand what Jesus meant...

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That God the Father is also our parent and we are never without God’s protection.

And he also has a message of hope intertwined with that calming thought

I have to be in my Father’s House

This is the part of the story that Mary most treasured

It is what assured her when Jesus went through his own suffering and struggles on the cross. That God was with Jesus. and would save him.

The same is true for those of us here today

Because of Jesus we will all be saved.

Despite all the struggles with life that Jennifer had we can be assured that what Jesus promised his parents is what God does.

That we will be in God’s House as well.

and like the 23rd Psalm which we read

Jennifer will be “in the house of the Lord forever”

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